Salty Watermelon Pepsi sounds downright awful. In fact, were I captured by a group of nefarious villains who were looking to extract specific data from my brain, pouring this vile concoction down my unwilling throat would be the easiest way to accomplish this mission. Since I’m not the world’s biggest fan of watermelon to begin with, the thought of infusing a watermelon-esque flavor with my carbonated beverage isn’t the sort of thing that appeals to me.
Then again, I’m not from Japan, a country that seems to thrive on peculiar soda flavors. In addition to the aforementioned experiment, which will be available in elaborate vending machines all across the country in the near future, Japan has enjoyed a remarkable number of outrageous flavors, including iced cucumber, azuka bean, strawberry milk, Mont Blanc (a French chestnut dessert), green shiso, and, last but certainly not least, yogurt. In 2011, the nation enjoyed Pepsi Dry, which was a bitter, non-sweetened beverage that would surely cause my stomach to curdle after one tiny sip. There’s a reason it was only available for a short period of time.
A few years back, Japanese soda drinkers could indulge in something known as Pepsi Strong Shot, which presented prospective consumers with “a high concentration of caffeine and with extra carbonation.” So strong was the latter that the drink came with a warning: wait 15 minutes before opening the can unless you want to get a face full of sticky carbonated fluid.
In order to promote their curious products, Pepsi Japan has released several curious commercials over the years. A handful of examples have been embedded below for your viewing pleasure. Note: Pepsi has not compensated us for this article. Seriously. I wouldn’t support a salty watermelon beverage if it had a bacon milkshake aimed at my head.